The Energy Department is looking at transferring three power barges to Mindanao as a condition to their privatization to help address an expected shortfall on the island in the dry season.
Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said Monday the privatization of Power Barge 101, 102 and 103 would be tied to this condition.
“We’re pushing through with the sale of PB 101 to 103 on condition that they be transferred to Mindanao,” Almendras said.
Each power barge, which runs on diesel, has a capacity of 32 MW. PB 101 was commissioned in 1981 while the other two started operating in 1985. The barges are currently moored in the Visayas.
Almendras said the power barges were operating below their capacity. He said increasing their capacity would help address the impending power shortage in Mindanao.
Almendras said the department hopes to transfer the barges by May or June, when the water levels in Mindanao’s hydropower facilities are expected to go down.
“By June, we plan to transfer [the barges] from Panay to Mindanao. We have identified the mooring stations in Mindanao. It will take a month or 45 days to transfer,” he said.
Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. wanted to sell the barges as early as the end of 2010. PSALM now plans to privatize the assets toward the end of the second quarter.
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